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The latest movie theater news and updates

ATLANTA, GA — The Friends of the Strand, who are trying to save Atlanta’s long-closed Deco movie theater, have determined that the cost of a complete restoration of the theater is just shy of $3 million dollars, according to an article in today’s Atlanta Journal Constitution. The Strand, which hasn’t shown a movie for 27 years, is perhaps the only remaining Art Deco theater in the state of Georgia and is eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.

WAYNE, MI — The Historic Wayne Theatre needs your help! We are seeking volunteers to help restore our theater! If you live in the Metro-Detroit area and would like to help, contact us via our website at www.historicwaynetheatre.com, or call (734) 728-SHOW and leave a message if we aren’t there. We also need donations. Any and all help is appreciated. For more information about our theater, check out our theater page on Cinema Treasures.

DES PLAINES, IL — According to a story in today’s Daily Herald, the 77-year old Des Plaines Theater has been bought by a former manager of the theater. The theater’s previous owner, a local bank, had planned on razing most or all of the former vaudeville house.

AVENAL, CA — The Fresno Bee has more information about the fallout from Saturday’s fire at the Avenal Theatre. According to the article, the fire damaged and/or destroyed a total of eight businesses in the downtown Avenal area, totalling at least $1 million in damage. [uPDATE: another report from local TV station ABC30.com indicates that Avenal city leaders have voted to rebuild the theater.]

CHICAGO, IL — According to the Chicago Sun Times, Paul Warshauer, the new owner of the Portage Park Theatre (located in the Chicago neighborhood of the same name), is attempting to reopen the theater as a venue for classic and family-friendly films, but it would seem that the city’s revenue department has other plans.

NEW YORK, NY — Last Friday’s star-studded premiere of the new British romantic ensemble comedy, “Love Actually”, was held at the historic and stylish Beekman Theatre, on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Among the film’s stars walking the red carpet were Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Martine McCutcheon, and Laura Linney. The film, which had a so-so sixth place opening this weekend, was directed (and written) by Richard Curtis, the screenwriter behind two of Grant’s most successful movies, “Notting Hill” and “Bridget Jones”. It was Curtis' directorial debut.

MILWAUKEE, WI — Events in the past two days have literally put the city of Milwaukee in the theatrical spotlight.

On Thursday last, the first Milwaukee International Film Festival opened at the Oriental Theatre, with hundreds of people being greeted by the huge searchlight brightening the night sky. From Nov. 6th through the 16th, some 10,000 people are expected to enjoy some 100 films by independent filmmakers from three dozen nations as the show moves each day to other local vintage theaters including the Downer, and the Times, as well as the University of Wisconsin’s Milwaukee Cinema. More info is available at www.milwaukeefilmfestival.org.

AVENAL, CA — According to a report by local television station ABC 30, the marquee of a historic movie theater was responsible for starting a blaze on Saturday evening that damaged several downtown buildings.

JENKINTOWN, PA — According to an article in Friday’s Philadelphia Inquirer, a nonprofit group is set to purchase the Chas III theater in hopes to revitalize the city’s downtown area. The theater, which will be rechristened as the Hiway Theatre, will primarily show arthouse fare, with a mix of classic, independent, and foreign films.